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The National Youth Competition has been a fast paced, high-scoring, and highly entertaining feature over the last five years.
However, it has had a negative impact on the game and it is now time that we evolve with the introduction of the National Reserve Grade.
It would be very difficult to argue that the NYC has not been a success. Viewers have embraced the game with NYC ratings comparable to Super Rugby and the A-League.
Over the last five years, the competition has also produced exciting graduates including the likes of Lachlan Coote, Josh Dugan, Daly Cherry-Evans, and of course, the NRL poster-boy and 2012 Dally M winner, Ben Barba.
According to the NRL, we have seen 10 graduates play State of Origin and 22 represent their country at an international level.
But is this really indicative of the success of the NYC or just the inevitability that younger players will replace older ones?
Although high-scoring games can be entertaining, defences win premierships.
In 2012, the NYC averaged a whopping 52.8 points per game, while the NRL saw only 41. This is an increase of almost two converted tries or 29%.
Scoring tries has taken the focus away from preventing them. As these players move into the top grade, this equates to a poorer quality game.
What’s going on in reserve grade then?
Very little, actually. Games are played in front of a few hundred fans at park footy grounds.
This is having a negative effect on fringe first-graders above the age of 20.
How can a player be expected to lift their game playing on dirt, for a handful of spectators, when just the week before they were playing in front of twenty-thousand screaming fans?
One of the biggest criticisms of NYC graduates is that they are not ready for first grade when they first start out.
Players at the age of 20 are often still developing their game and are quite often thrown into the fast-paced, first grade too early.
But what happens to those players who are held back for a few more years before making their NRL debut? Well, they are being “put out to pasture,” says Chris Anderson.
Considering that in the first three years of the under-20′s competition, only 14% of players debuted in first grade and only 4% played twenty or more games, there have been a significant number of players bundled out into the NSW or Queensland Cups.
It’s time to move on.
The most obvious solutions are quite often the best. Combine the two!
Let’s place the best players from the NYC alongside the best players from reserve grade and create a National Reserve Grade.
Each NRL club would field a side of their “next best” 17 players, regardless of age. Not only does this allow fringe first graders the chance to play with and against quality footballers, it allows the young stars to play alongside grown men without the pressure and speed of the toughest league competition in the world.
I know the NYC can be an exciting game, but surely combining the best players into one competition will result in a better product.
I’m not suggesting that we scrap the thought of an under-20′s competition altogether.
One suggestion is to develop a whole new comp along the lines of college football and play it midweek. More games on television means more money.
We could also revert back to the days of the Jersey Flegg and have these youngsters wearing the proud colours of the Balmain Tigers, Western Suburbs Magpies and Newtown Jets. That’s exciting in itself!
The NYC was the brainchild of a Gallop-led league. He put a great spin on it and told us every year just how successful it had been.
Say what you like about David Gallop, but one thing that can be said is that he held strong opinions and was reluctant to change them.
Just look at the ridiculous McIntyre finals system that he brought in and how long it took the Independent Commission to change it.
So, what are your thoughts? Could the NRG work and would you like to see it? Let me know your thoughts below.
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